I’m going to explain to you the price tag for a starting caliber quarterback upgrade exactly how it was explained to me by an NFL executive.

How much will QB Matt Flynn receiver on the open market as an unrestricted free agent?

Imagine you’re in the market for a German made luxury automobile, one we don’t see on the road very often.

There’s a reason you don’t see them all the time, and that’s because these luxurious rides are hard to find.

It’s part of the appeal.

They’re also expensive, and its a sellers market. Only four dealerships in the state of Florida have this car, which we’ll call QB UPGRADE, and the price doesn’t fluctuate because they know if you don’t buy QB UPGRADE someone else will.

Owning QB UPGRADE doesn’t guarantee you won’t crash it, or that it won’t give you engine problems. It very well could be a lemon. But once its off the lot its your problem.

So….you either want the car or you don’t. You’ll either pay the price or you won’t because Cleveland, Washington and Seattle are likely willing to pay the price. At least that’s what you’re being told. But you do know they’re shopping around too.

And you know someone will buy QB UPGRADE. Will it be you?

See what traits Jeff Ireland is looking for in a QB in exclusive video below:

That’s the ultimate decision you have to make in Miami. Pay the price for QB UPGRADE or keep shopping.

You can pick another car, settling for something or someone else. But it won’t be QB UPGRADE, and you’ll lust after QB UPGRADE any time you see it on the road, especially if it excels.

It could haunt you just like Drew Brees has when you passed on that ride to purchase Daunte Culpepper instead.

That’s the position the Miami Dolphins will be in regarding Green Bay backup quarterback Matt Flynn, who will likely become the top unrestricted free agent option at his position when free agency begins on March 13. Part of the appeal to Flynn is he likely won’t cost the team that acquires him any draft picks.

Kyle Orton, Jason Campbell, Alex Smith, Josh Johnson, Shaun Hill, Dennis Dixon, Vince Young, Drew Stanton, Charlie Whitehurst will also be at the dealership, and get sold at reduced prices.

But are any of these options QB UPGRADE?

The Dolphins can keep rolling in the same ride they’ve had for a while (Chad Henne), or continue pushing the rental (Matt Moore). But do either take you where you want to go (playoffs, Super Bowl)?

And do either of them get you anywhere in style?

Dolphins owner Steve Ross isn’t use to riding in just anything, and neither are Dolphins fans, who has suffered in life after Dan Marino.

That’s why I’ve come to terms with the price being the price on QB UPGRADE, and I’m told Flynn will likely receive a five or six year contract that pays him $8-10 million a season.

That’s steep, but that’s supposedly the price.

The framework of a deal for Flynn won’t exceed the ridiculous deal Kevin Kolb got from Arizona. It’s more realistic that Flynn will receiver a contract in the ballpark with the one Matt Hasselbeck signed with Seattle, which paid him 6-year, $47 millions from 2005-2010.

Now, of course you’ll need to add about million to that deal for inflation purposes?

That deal paid Hasselbeck, a proven commodity at the time, a $16 million signing bonus, and his cap number for the first two years was $5.2 million, and $6.5 million. Of course that deal is back loaded like you wouldn’t believe, but a similar deal would create cap flexibility for the Dolphins.

That flexibility would allow Miami to use the team’s salary cap space, which I’m estimating will be around $15 million (with a few trimmings), to address other needs.

So you have a ballpark look at what quarterbacks cost these days…. please understand the going rate for a backup quarterback is about $4 million per season.

Tavaris Jackson got that from Seattle last year on a two-year, $8 million deal. And Whitehurst, who is now a free agent, got that exact deal from the Seahawks in 2010.

So, unless its a drafted player, any free agent added is going to run about $4 million per.

Here’s the top shelf prices.

Tom Brady and Eli Manning, the two quarterbacks playing in the Super Bowl this Sunday, have a cap number that’s slightly over $15 million in 2012.

Matthew Stafford, Mark Sanchez and Tony Romo have cap numbers that’s over $14 million. Philadelphia’s Michael Vick, who last year signed a six-year deal that’s conservatively worth $80 million, has a $13.9 million cap number.

Aaron Rodgers’ cap number is $11,150,000. Kolb has a cap number of $10 million. Chicago’s Jay Cutler is at $9.6 million, Tampa Bay’s Josh Freshman is at $8,585,000. Texas’ Matt Schaub is at $8,316,667 and Baltimore’s Joe Flacco is at $8,190,000.

That brings us to the company Flynn will keep, and that’s Hasselbeck’s new deal with Tennessee, Ryan Fitzpatrick, who just got a new deal from Buffalo, and Kansas City’s Matt Cassel.

Hasselbeck got a three-year, $20 millions deal that paid him a $6 million signing bonus last offseason. Hasselbeck has a cap value of $7,833,333 in 2012.

Fitzpatrick received a six-year, $59 million contract from the Bills during the 2011 season, which paid him a $10 million signing bonus. His cap value is $6 million in 2012.

Cassel, whom the Chiefs traded a second-round pick for and signed to an extension in 2009, was given a six-year, $63 million deal that guaranteed him $28 million. His cap value in 2012 is $5,455,200.

Of course it’ll all depend on how many teams are bidding for Flynn’s services. But again, Dolphins fans need to understand quarterback is a seller’s market, and possible upgrades don’t come cheap, even if they’ve only had two NFL starts.

I still see Grubbs as the more likely of the two. Ravens have not only Flacco, but Rice to sign in Baltimore. Brees will sign a huge contract, no doubt, but he loves NO, and he loves Nicks too, so I would guess he will make it easy for them to sign both. JMO.

How are you feeling bro? I hope you are healing well.
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Thanks Ken…….. I’m okay (Good Meds)….. But I am having some very real issues with sleep…. as in not getting any…. If the Docs have their way they will place me on a PTS regime (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)… But that will not be looked at until the surgery sites are healed and I am off all forms of pain meds…. They can in themselves create sleep disorder and mood swings… so… ???

Never had any serious issues in the past…. And I have been through 3 IED explosions now…. It may be do to this one occurring so close to my retirement? Hell… I don’t know bro….. I’ll be alright….

Derek, I’m interested to see how we approach the offseason. Jeff Ireland no longer has the Parcells/Sparano team. He’s on his own with two coaches from GB. He has to impress Philbin, Sherman and Coyle. Does he impress them or come off like a fish out of water? This offseason will say a lot about him.

Mike E, I’m ok with Grubbs too. Both are LG’s and I think we need to fill that spot with a developed one. I like Ritchie but think he’d best be suited to move back to RG or as depth.
RT & RG can be filled by the draft & a combo of a competiton winner between Jerry, & Murtha…IMO.

good luck to you. i know about ken’s advice (doctors suck) but sending my best vibes your way. oh hell, you deserve it, i will send my best NLC’s your way, if that dont make it all better nothing will.

Derek, I’m interested to see how we approach the offseason. Jeff Ireland no longer has the Parcells/Sparano team. He’s on his own with two coaches from GB. He has to impress Philbin, Sherman and Coyle. Does he impress them or come off like a fish out of water? This offseason will say a lot about him.
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Tim…

You know? It has been sort of implied and taken as a given that Jeff Ireland is Ross’s boy. I’m not so certain that is true as much as I feel Ross had to make a choice between a complete implosion of the team, and a rebuild. Which could have been done only under the auspice and eye of a new GM. OR… allowing what looks like a decent foundation and fundamentally sound beginning to continue on the trajectory the Jeff set it on.

If anything is true about most REALLY wealthy people, it is their thinking is usually very practical if not analytical… Ross has a fan attendance issue… if he blows it out he has NOTHING… at least he has the Bush’s and the Marshall’s and the Burnett’s and Davis’s…..

I believe Ross is betting that sticking with the current PLAYER trajectory and then couple it with an entirely new and more intellectual coaching system will pay off…. If it doesn’t… I see Ireland walking the plank next year and Philbin getting more control….

Agreed. This is a big year for Ireland the GM not the guy you like or don’t like. Does he do his job? He needs to show he can provide talent for a new regime with some different ideas outside of the structure he came from.

This is a big moment in time for Ireland. Can he be what a GM is supposed to be, which is to provide talent for a current HC and staff that has a vision? The HC is ultimately responsible for wins and losses. You have to give them what they need to succeed. I’m interested to see how Ireland handles providing talent for a new regime and system. I think he got a head start last year, at least on offense.

I actually liked the 2011 draft. I think we found some players who will be a part of this team for a few years.

Exactly. The pass D suffered when V Davis was hurt [ be he closed very well] but suffered more because they don’t have a safety who can relaibly cover TE’s and we are in the era of exceptional TE’s and the Pats have 2 of them. I completely agree about QB,RT but I think they need a very good FS before a pass rusher or a TE. And they still need another OG.
And, yes, they had better pay Solali.

Notice Omar doesn’t mention that everyone in the sports community thinks Buffalo overpaid for Fitzpatrick. Miami is going to do the same with Flynn? You are a genius Mr. Ross!
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Rick…

I never did buy into fans insisting a player “Costs too much”… and the reason is clear…. Ross is spending HIS MONEY… not yours or mine. I have found and honestly believe that in most cases people use the “He costs too much” excuse to justify their own ideas and underscore the players THEY want to see the team get.

Don’t get me wrong… I’m not here to accuse you of that or anything else…. I just know I am FAR more concerned with what Ireland and Ross do with our very few draft picks we get every year, then with the money that Steven Ross will write off his IRS bill as an expense in payroll.

Personally, I wish they could pay Flynn, Manning, RG3, Henne, Moore and who the hell ever else can fit on the bus… Spend it all… I don’t care… just leave the damned draft picks intact unless you have a VERY VERY good reason not to.

It still boggles my mind why some of you seem to think the HC can be a good GM or talent evaluator…

The HC is not a GM no more than the GM is not a HC. It is very rare IMO where one person can do BOTH well. In fact the only guy other than Shula was JJ IMO. Parcells will never be viewed IMO as a good GM more than a very Good HC because he had a great staff and LT.

But when given the opportunity to actually shop for the groceries like he wanted he was not very good IMO.

Choosing Tony as HC is one of a few mistakes He made in Miami IMO. He wasted a lot of money on FA signings early on.

So IF Matt Flynn comes to Miami, what are the chances he keeps that god awful ginger beard?
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Rock…

Give him about 15 minutes in the July/August training camp weather in Miami…. he will come out of the locker room without the beard and likely with a semi-shaved head…… Facial hair in Summer sucks really bad in S. Florida.

Agreed. This is a big year for Ireland the GM not the guy you like or don’t like. Does he do his job? He needs to show he can provide talent for a new regime with some different ideas outside of the structure he came from.

This is a big moment in time for Ireland. Can he be what a GM is supposed to be, which is to provide talent for a current HC and staff that has a vision? The HC is ultimately responsible for wins and losses. You have to give them what they need to succeed. I’m interested to see how Ireland handles providing talent for a new regime and system. I think he got a head start last year, at least on offense.

I actually liked the 2011 draft. I think we found some players who will be a part of this team for a few years.

“For example, You cannot hold Tony Sparano responsible for Pat White. He NEVER should have been drafted in the 2nd round, hell, he never should have been drafted as a QB…. But someone…. someone mind you (and no one is talking) got the hots for White and …. well you know the rest…”

“But there are the time where GM’s give coaches good talent and the coaches screw it up… I know you feel that way about Chad Henne. It is possible you are right, I don’t think you are 100% wrong… But… well there it is….”

fine for them to be all googaaa when it comes to over paid prima donna’s who have no other challenge but to fit balls in a tight space, but let a man watch a poor, sweet, innocent, struggling, young, over work actress having to fit things up to the balls in tight places and we are pigs.

It still boggles my mind why some of you seem to think the HC can be a good GM or talent evaluator
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Markeyh…

I must agree with you there…. and this reasoning is EXACTLY why I had no problem with Ross and Ireland saying “NO” to Jeff Fisher when he asked for more control over player matters…. I think Miami got it right this time…. You hire a GM and he and the owner hire a coach.

The idea is abhorrent to those who feel it places the coaches on the “Hot Seat”… But I feel it only does in cases where the GM has OBVIOUSLY made a blunder… For example, You cannot hold Tony Sparano responsible for Pat White. He NEVER should have been drafted in the 2nd round, hell, he never should have been drafted as a QB…. But someone…. someone mind you (and no one is talking) got the hots for White and …. well you know the rest…

Happens all the time…. But there are the time where GM’s give coaches good talent and the coaches screw it up… I know you feel that way about Chad Henne. It is possible you are right, I don’t think you are 100% wrong… But… well there it is….

Ever the optimist Howie. Flynn won’t be cheap but I too think we will make it work. I don’t expect many other major moves in FA. We will look to the draft to fill our holes such as on the OL and pass rusher.

…………………I actually liked the 2011 draft. I think we found some players who will be a part of this team for a few years.
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Tim…

It is difficult to hold a draft that took 6 players total and that 5…
Pouncey
Thomas
Clay
Gates
Wilson

started games and were productive on……. If Miami had drafts like that every single year…. damn…

Take a good look at the Keeper, No-Keeper draft record for the NE Patsy’s… It is abysmal… BUT!!! and this is a BIG BUT… the ones they keep… are usually pro-bowl caliber players within a couple of years…. I only have one hang-up with that…. I want to see how that statistic reacts when Tom Brady goes the way of Dan Marino…..

Then and only then will we know what was Brady and what was owner/coach, philosophy………

Ken
Exactly
Speaking of cap Hell
Imagine what Manning would command, Goodbye Dansby, See ya Bush, So long Wake, Gotta go Vontae, Adios Carpenter.
For what, 1 game maybe a season. Well one positive if we go after Manning instead, we can rest assured we will end up with the #1 pick in ‘13
GO PHINS!!!

51 minutes ago – Texas Tech OL coach Turner accepts Dolphins job
Texas Tech OL coach Jim Turner has resigned to take the OL coach position with the Dolphins, Tech coach Tommy Tuberville announced Wednesday. Turner joined the Tech staff in December after holding the same position during the 2011 season at Texas A&M.

So IF Matt Flynn comes to Miami, what are the chances he keeps that god awful ginger beard?

Reply

Ken

February 1, 2012 at 3:39 pm

LMAO. Maybe we get some one to hold him down while he gets shaved.

”

Don’t do it guys! That’s like Samson’s hair! You’ll destroy his accuracy!

Ironically, I’ve noticed that the last few years more and more NFL players have adopted the “playoff beard” that hockey players have worn for centuries (well for over a century). I freakin love that tradition. In an era of selfishness and greed in pro sports, it’s a simple and unmistakeable show of solidarity. I’d love to see our whole team do it (if we ever make the playoffs again)!

“Saints guard Carl Nicks projects as one of the most desirable free agents to hit the market this offseason.

If he has his way, though, he won’t be leaving New Orleans. Nicks was at a ceremony honoring the Saints’ offensive line with the Prilosec OTC Madden Protectors Award on Wednesday and told Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he would like to re-sign with the Saints this offseason. Nicks also said that the team has told him that they are interested in keeping him.

Nicks is just one of many decisions the Saints are going to have to make on their own free agents this year. Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Tracy Porter and a handful of other players are set to become free agents which means the Saints will need to prioritize and act quickly to keep other suitors from sweeping in and signing a player they want to keep away. Figuring out Brees’ contract will be key as signing him long-term would allow them to use the franchise tag to keep Nicks if they so desire”.

Ken says:
February 1, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Alright mob. Time to pack up at the office. I probably spent too much time on here today and not enough on work. That is alrigh I have been busy enough lately. It was good conversing with everyone today. Peace to the mob.

“Got My Money”
______________________
Man, too funny!! The company i used to work for showed a portion of this episode during a sales meeting during a segment about collections.
Very funny!!!!!!!!!LOLOLOLOL

“Agreed. This is a big year for Ireland the GM not the guy you like or don’t like. Does he do his job? He needs to show he can provide talent for a new regime with some different ideas outside of the structure he came from.

This is a big moment in time for Ireland. Can he be what a GM is supposed to be, which is to provide talent for a current HC and staff that has a vision?
”

Tim, I actually personally think he already has shown he IS a what a GM is supposed to be. If you can hit on 5 draftees a year you are doing great..and Ireland’s record since he’s been here is better then that. There are some misses sure, but every GM misses. This is a volume game IMHO, picking future HOFers isn’t really a skill, it’s luck. Randy Moss had most of the NFL pass on him his rookie year before the Vikes drafted him, but it wasn’t because Tim Connoly was some great eye for HOF talent, it was because they had the balls to take the risks that other teams missed. It worked out brilliantly, but it proves this thing is not all science..it’s part art.

It’s a big year for him, I do agree, but I think the heat he’s taken is misplaced, and a product of fans who think they know more then they do TBH. I long for the days when we read about transactions in the sports page, and the casual fan didn’t even know who the GM was.

Everyone on here bashes ireland or the trifecta for this team. Does anyone realized the trifecta tok ova a 1 and 15 team. That 07 team was one of the worst ever nfl teams. The trifecta had to rebuild that roster. Thru the draft which they failed in with some of the draft picks and also thru FA. Also i believe going 11 and 5 the next yr hurt us. Usually a team thzt won one gm the yr before doesnt make the playoofs the next yr and by going 11&5.hurt us building this team. Instead of picking between 1 thru 10. We drafted at #22. In everyround. Me personally didnt give enuff credit to the trifecta by rebuilding this team. But the rebuilding process is over. Weve been rebuilding for the past 3yrs. Its time to take that next step. We needed a hardnosed guy like sparano back n o7. Now its time for the team and regime to take the next step and become contenders every yr. We have a good fondation to build on thanks to sparano and how he kept this team together.

2nd-re: Flynn
We are not getting Luck
We are not likely going to get RGIII
NEED QB
NEED other things-OL, DB, TE…….
We did not WASTE on Orton (nice decision, for all of those geniuses who were demanding heads when it didn’t happen)
We are gonna have to pay for a QB one way or another, so accept it…
Flynn has played all of 12 minutes in NFL career, but has done well enough to be interestingt idea and played and been mantored in a good system
Many ?’s about other QB’s in the draft.
Other FA QB’s don’t give much varied excitement
Henne (while having loads of talent) is not the answer for the Phins– and is an injury risk
Moore showed ability, but no one is giving him the credit to think he is the final answer, so…
SO-FLYNN IS WORTH THE RISK TO TRY IF HE WANTS TO COME TO MIAMI AND WILL NOT COST US DRAFT PICK. IT’S ONLY MONEY AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE IT A GO. I DON’T SEE A MAGIC FRANCHISE QB WAND IN IRELAND’S POCKET. AND WE# CAN EVEN DRAFT ANOTHER QB EITHER LOWER DOWN OR NEXT YEAR>
We have enough talent that continuing to add through the draft will help any QB here and make them look better, anyway

why does everybody thing flynn is that good henne, moore could put that number up with packers offensive… we need draft our own qb for future…dolphins fan are losing thier mind relax….how long will it take dc to find him out after 3 start…

manning is done maybe you vultures get a yr out of him before you send him home to his children crippled and the fins are three steps back from where they are now. lets build a team for decade not a year.

OK, So what Flynn only played in 2 games. One of which he broke team records for passing. On a team that had BRETT FAVRE and Aaron Rogers on it. Oh, his other game, he threw 3 td’s against the PATRIOTS, almost beat them. Oh, the Kevin Kolb comparisons are silly, really. Kevin Kolb went from WCO with Philly, to NOT WCO with Cards. Philbin, Flynns OC is our HC! Speaking of Rogers, Aaron that is, Didnt he come in for an injurred FAVRE a couple times, and look pretty good? Maybe because he sat under FAvre for 4 years, same ammount of time Flynn sat under Rogers. Comon, does anyone think Philbin would not have scaled down the offense for Flynn that last game against Detriot, if he didnt think that he couldnt do it? Coming from LSU playing in the best conferance in college football, SEC, and winning a national title………. Doesnt that say, Flynn has been around winning ALOT? He didnt win that national title being the only real good team in the conferance, LIke how SANCHEZ got his. He is a 7th round pick you say? Tom Brady was a 6th. Kurt Warner wasnt even drafted. AN Flynn is more proven than RG3, Even more proven than ANdruw Luck. How many NFL games has either of those 2 played against? Flynn is YOUNG, so what if we have to pay 5 years 50 mill? Contracts arent guarenteed. WHat do we have to lose? Money? Not MY money! ROSSES money! Flynn would be just as much our “future” as RG3 would be, and we have a larger sample size of what FLYNN can do against NFL defenses. SO many college qb’s taken in top of draft turn out Badly. To trade up for RG3 is riskier than Flynn.

OMAR KELLY was unsuccessful at achieving his childhood dream to become a super hero, so he figured he'd do the next best thing and become a journalist who fights against injustice, and searches for truth. After being bored to death reporting news and covering politics, he switched to sports.
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IZZY GOULD joined the Sun Sentinel in Feb. 2012 as a Senior Sports Reporter on the Miami Dolphins beat. He came to South Florida fresh off covering the University of Alabama football program, including its 2011 national championship team. More